Nichols Cars N1A: Legendary F1 engineer reveals latest road-legal machine

Nichol’s old-school approach to performance combines a 7.0-litre V8 with a 900kg kerb weight.

If you’re not an F1 fan, the name Steve Nichols probably won’t ring any bells. But, without realising, you’re probably familiar with the iconic race machines that he engineered to victory. Of these, the most famous has to be Ayrton Senna’s Marlborough-liveried McLaren MP4/4, which triumphed in the ’88 season with 15 race wins and pole positions.

So it’s evident that Nichols knows how to build a phenomenal racing car, but now he has decided to turn his ingenious mind towards making off-the-wall road cars instead.

The N1A is his latest creation, and it’s nirvana on four-wheels for any petrolhead. Adopting the simple but effective, more power, less weight philosophy, the N1A packs a stonking 650bhp 7.0-litre V8 (sourced from Chevrolet) into an ultra-lightweight aluminium and carbonfibre body. And while no official acceleration figures have been published, Nichol’s claim that performance is ‘visceral’, is probably a bit of an understatement.

It's not your usual kit car special either. Every avenue has been explored to ensure the N1A goes, stops, and turns, in a way which would be familiar to the F1 drivers of yore. Each tyre is kept firmly in contact with the tarmac thanks to fully independent double wishbone suspension. While multi-piston racing brakes should have no problem pulling some serious G-force when you hit the middle pedal for dear life.

Even the way the car scythes through the air at speed has been developed using high-tech equipment at MIRA’s wind tunnel – ultimately, allowing downforce to be achieved despite the retro shape.

The N1A is old-school in the most literal sense, with Nichols believing that modern performance machines have become increasingly diluted by automation and safety technology. The company asserts: “…we never want to lose touch with the raw, nihilistic pleasure from driving an awesome machine.”

As such, you’ll need to possess some serious driving talent if you want to get near the N1A’s limits. Few driver aids are available, and you can even option unassisted steering if you want to get your weekly arm-workout through wrestling the wheel.

However, one crumb of comfort for those brave enough to exploit the car’s full performance potential, are the standard fit Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres. With vast grip reserves and a predictable and progressive feel at the limit, Nichols couldn’t have chosen a better set of boots for this hair-raising racer.

Just 100 N1As will be built, and 15 of those have already found homes with well-heeled clientele. But, if you’re interested, it could be worth attending the Bicester Heritage Scramble this October for a rare chance to see (and hear) the car in the metal.

Do you think the world deserves more enthusiast-focused machines like these, or is it time we embraced electric propulsion and consigned gas-guzzlers to history?

Hero image credit: Nichols Cars